Railway hopper car

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a bottom discharge hopper or hopper car having radial doors across an open bottom of a container and pivotally suspended about a common horizontal axis. The doors form collectively, a closure across the open bottom and are caused to be simultaneously swung in upward and outward directions for gravitational discharge of the container.

United States Patent [191 Joubert [111 3,790,008 [451 Feb. 5, 1974 1 RAILWAY HOPPER CAR [75] lnventor: Robert Montaque .loubert, I

Potchefstroom, South Africa [73] Assignee: Rotaque (Proprietary) Limited,

Potchefstroom, Transvaal Province, South Africa '22 Filed: June 6 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 260,189

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 9, 1971 South Africa 71/3725 [52] US. Cl 214/63, 105/241 C, 105/250, 105/364 [51] Int. Cl B61d 7/04, B61d 7/18, B61d 7/32 [58] Field of Searchl05/24l C, 250, 253, 262, 364;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,594,863 8/1926 Warner 214/63 1,825,943 10/1931 Evans 105/262 2,042,266 5/1936 McCa11en..

3,024,924 3/ 1962 Lingard 3,529,734 /1970 Marais 105/241 C X Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Assistant ExaminerHoward Beltran Attorney, Agent, or Firml(arl W. Flocks [57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to a bottom discharge hopper or hopper car having radial doors across an open bottom of a container and pivotally suspended about a common horizontal axis. The'doors form collectively, a closure across the open bottom and are caused to be simultaneously swung in upward and outward directions for gravitational discharge of the container.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures WI I wil I] RAILWAY HOPPER CAR BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention a bottom discharge hopper is provided which includes a horizontal frame, a container body mounted on the frame and having an opening in the bottom, doors with concave-curved inwardly directed faces which arepivotally suspended about a common axis and coactingly form a closure across the open bottom of the container body, and devices extending outwardly from the doors for engagement by means adapted to control simultaneous outward and return swinging movement of the doors away from and towards one another for opening and closing of the open bottom of the container body.

The concave-curveds'urfaces of the doors are preferably arranged for movement in close-spaced relation ship to horizontal bottom edge portions of the container body for dislodging and removal of material from such surfaces fora substantial complete discharge of the load. I

The doors are preferably gravitationally biassed to the coacting closed positions. The devices on the outside of the doors are at off-centred positions and when of appreciable weight assists self-closing of the doors. Meansmay also be incorporated to lock the doors in'at least the closed positions and which means are operated for release before opening and after final closing of the doors. The control of such lock means is preferably automatic and arranged to take place just prior to the applied opening action and after the closing action.

According to one form of the invention a hopper car is provided in which the horizontal frame comprises a chassis carried on spacedwheels and whereon the open bottom container body is rigidly mounted while the pivotally suspended doors are swingably or swivelably suspended about a common axis arranged at a raised position relative to the open bottom of the body and parallel with the direction of movement of the car. Each bottom closure door is provided with substantially perpendicular end parts which are of generally sector shape,

towards the transverse ends. The container body is rigidly supported on the chassis by upright mountings and has a transversely reduced lower portion, having the bottom discharge opening, located in spaced relationship within the chassis.

The opening movement of the suspended doors may be applied by stationary cam-forming devices or ramps mounted adjacent the rail tracks for engagement by wheel means attached to rigid brackets extending outwardly from the doors for substantially simultaneous upward and outward swinging of the doors for load discharge. The closing movement of the doors is gravitational but stationary cam-forming devices may be provided and engageable by wheel means to provide a positive closing action. Theweight of the said brackets and the wheels provide additional biassing weight to assist the closing and maintenance of the closed positions of the-doors.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and carried into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying sheet of drawings which illustrates one form of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS v In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an end elevation of a hopper car constructed according to the invention and shown in the load carrying position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 showing the hopper car in a discharging position; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The hopper car shown in the drawings comprises a horizontal and substantially rectangular chassis frame 10 carried on two pairs of spaced rail wheels 12. The

wheels 12 are arranged inwardly of the chassis frame 10. An open bottom container body 14, also of reactangular shape in plan, is symmetrically supported by mountings 16 on the chassis frame 10 with its centre line above the centre line of the chassis frame. The container body 14 provides downwardly converging side wall portions 14.1 connecting with their bottom edges onto a vertically downwardly extending reduced body portion 14.2 which in turn is open at the bottom. The lower part of the bottom portion 14.2 is disposed in spaced relationship within the upper region of the chassis frame 10. The transverse end walls 14.3 of the reduced bottom portion 14.2 of the body is of substantially downwardly converging shape and "of which the convergent edges 14.5 are of outward curved convex shape.

Centrally on the end walls 14.4 of the container forming members 22 which are of substantially L- shape. As may be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 the arcuate surfaces 21 of doors 20 closely conform to the general curvature of edges 14.5 and thus are also eccentric with respect to the axis of stub shafts l8 and of increasing radius along a path laterally outwardly from a point directly beneath the axis of stub shafts 18. As doors 20 are swung about stub shafts 18 to their open position to discharge the load from container body 14, the arcuate surfaces 21 inherently move radially away from the edges 14.5 and the load by virtue of their eccentricity and curvature with respect to the axis of stub shafts 18 as defined above. In thus moving away from the load the surfaces 21 of doors 20 and are not subject to frictional resistance which would normally be encountered by surfaces concentric with respect to the pivot support members therefor. Said pair of members 22 of each door 20 are disposed substantially perpendicular to the concave-curved face of the curved plate and are provided with bearings on the free ends which are journalled on the fixed horizontal stub shafts 18.

The concave face of each door 20 is disposed in narrow spaced relationship with the bottom of the longitudinal walls of the reduced bottom portion 14.2 of the body 14. From a centre region of the outer face of each door 20 an outwardly directed cantilever-like bracket 24 is fixed. The free end of each bracket 24 extends outwardly beyond the relevant longitudinal side of the chassis frame 10. On said free end of each bracket 24, a roller or wheel 26 is rotatably mounted and arranged to engage upwardly curved stationary cam tracks 28 mounted at the discharge position or station adjacent the rail tracks 30. Said wheels 26 of the doors 20 are adapted to run on the cam surfaces as the hopper car passes over the discharging position and are raised, causing outward and upward swinging of both the doors 20, for discharge of the load.

The discharge of the load from the body 14 is through the chassis and into a pit 32 or the like having the intake between the rail tracks 30.

The cam tracks 28, which are of substantially wide sine-curvature, comprise rigid structures disposed at corresponding spaced positions at opposite sides of the track. Said stationary cam tracks may be mounted by their lower regions on longitudinal axes in order that they may be swung outwardly for location free of the wheels 26 when discharge is not required at that position of the cam tracks. Such cam tracks may be arranged for location on a horizontal surface when in the inoperative positions. For upright operative mounting means are provided for locking them in the erect operative positions. Each cam track 28 provides for a sufficiently wide surface for a wheel 26. The wheels 26 may be provided with resilient material tyres.

The radial doors '20 provide suitable longitudinal meeting edge faces 34 which engage one another in abutting fashion when in the closed position. Both radial doors 20 are preferably of similar construction and of the same weight. On the transverse members of the chassis frame 10, which in FIG. 2 is shown broken away, known couplers are provided for coupling to other hopper cars, a locomotive or haulage gear. Such couplers are not shown on the drawings.

As aforesaid, the locking means may be provided for locking the doors in the engaged and hopper body closing position. Such means may engage over longitudinally outwardly directed elements on the doors while a laterally projecting lever arm device or devices may be provided having a cam track engaging wheel or wheels in order to engage the said cam tracks for unlocking of the doors prior to the wheels 26 engaging the cam tracks 28. The locking may be automatic after the doors have closed gravitationally.

The hopper cars according to the invention provide for sufficient scraping actions between the hopper body 14 and the concave faces of the radial doors to ensure complete discharge. Furthermore few wearing parts are presented whereby a reduction of maintenance is obtained. The hopper car has similar ends and by central location of the wheels on the doors such hopper cars may travel over the discharge station and the cam tracks 28 in either direction. I claim:

1. A bottom discharge hopper which includes a horizontal frame, a container body mounted on the frame and having an opening in the bottom, doors with concave-curved inwardly 'directed faces pivotally suspended about a common horizontal axis and coactingly forming a closure across the open bottom of the container body said inwardly directed faces being eccentric with respect to said common horizontal axis and of increasing radius along a path extending from a point generally laterally outwardly of said common horizontal axis to a point directly beneath said axis, and devices extending outwardly from the doors for engagement by means adapted to control simultaneous outward and return swinging movements of the doors away from and towards one another for opening and closing of the open bottom of the container body; said concavecurved inner surface of the doors being arranged for movement in close spaced relationship to horizontal bottom edge portions of the container body and adapted to dislodge and remove material from such surfaces.

2. A bottom discharge hopper as claimed in claim 1 including means for gravitationally biassing said doors to the coacting closed position across the open bottom of the container body.

3. A bottom discharge hopper as claimed in claim 1 wherein the devices on the outside of the doors are at off-centred positions relative to the suspension axis and the meeting edges of the doors to assist self-closing actions of the doors.

4. A bottom discharge hopper as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided to lock the doors in the coacting closed position, and arranged to unlock the doors before an opening action is applied and to lock the doors after the final closing.

5. A bottom discharge hopper as claimed inv claim 1 wherein both doors are of substantially similar shape and construction and have substantially perpendicular end parts of generally sector-shape with bearings at the convergent ends for pivotal mounting on horizontally disposed shafts outwardly of the container body.

6. A bottom discharge hopper rail car which includes an open horizontal chassis frame carried on spaced pairs of wheels, an open bottom container body of generally downwardly tapering shape rigidly mounted on the chassis frame, a pair of pivotally suspended doors having inwardly directed concave-curved faces swingably from shafts exteriorly of opposite ends of the container body and mounted on a common axis at a raised position relative to the open bottom of the body and parallel with an axis of the chassis arranged in the direction of movement of the mobile assembly, said inwardly directed faces being eccentric with respect to said common axis and of increasing radius along a path extending from a point generally laterally outwardly of said common axis to a point directly beneath said comtrolled by said stationary ramps.

7. A bottom discharge hopper rail car as claimed in claim 6 wherein the concave-curved faces of the doors are arranged for movement in close spaced relationship to horizontal bottom edges of the open bottom container body for dislodging material from such surfaces. 

1. A bottom discharge hopper which includes a horizontal frame, a container body mounted on the frame and having an opening in the bottom, doors with concave-curved inwardly directed faces pivotally suspended about a common horizontal axis and coactingly forming a closure across the open bottom of the container body said inwardly directed faces being eccentric with respect to said common horizontal axis and of increasing radius along a path extending from a point generally laterally outwardly of said comMon horizontal axis to a point directly beneath said axis, and devices extending outwardly from the doors for engagement by means adapted to control simultaneous outward and return swinging movements of the doors away from and towards one another for opening and closing of the open bottom of the container body; said concave-curved inner surface of the doors being arranged for movement in close spaced relationship to horizontal bottom edge portions of the container body and adapted to dislodge and remove material from such surfaces.
 2. A bottom discharge hopper as claimed in claim 1 including means for gravitationally biassing said doors to the coacting closed position across the open bottom of the container body.
 3. A bottom discharge hopper as claimed in claim 1 wherein the devices on the outside of the doors are at off-centred positions relative to the suspension axis and the meeting edges of the doors to assist self-closing actions of the doors.
 4. A bottom discharge hopper as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided to lock the doors in the coacting closed position, and arranged to unlock the doors before an opening action is applied and to lock the doors after the final closing.
 5. A bottom discharge hopper as claimed in claim 1 wherein both doors are of substantially similar shape and construction and have substantially perpendicular end parts of generally sector-shape with bearings at the convergent ends for pivotal mounting on horizontally disposed shafts outwardly of the container body.
 6. A bottom discharge hopper rail car which includes an open horizontal chassis frame carried on spaced pairs of wheels, an open bottom container body of generally downwardly tapering shape rigidly mounted on the chassis frame, a pair of pivotally suspended doors having inwardly directed concave-curved faces swingably from shafts exteriorly of opposite ends of the container body and mounted on a common axis at a raised position relative to the open bottom of the body and parallel with an axis of the chassis arranged in the direction of movement of the mobile assembly, said inwardly directed faces being eccentric with respect to said common axis and of increasing radius along a path extending from a point generally laterally outwardly of said common axis to a point directly beneath said common axis, and outwardly extending devices on the exterior of the doors comprising cantilever-like brackets each having a wheel on the outwardly directed free ends, and wheels being adapted for rolling engagement on stationary cam-forming ramps mounted adjacent rail tracks on which the car is run for upward swinging displacement of the doors to the open positions whereas closing of the doors is gravitational and controlled by said stationary ramps.
 7. A bottom discharge hopper rail car as claimed in claim 6 wherein the concave-curved faces of the doors are arranged for movement in close spaced relationship to horizontal bottom edges of the open bottom container body for dislodging material from such surfaces. 